Formulation of the relativistic moment implicit particle-in-cell method

Journal Article · Sun Apr 15 04:00:00 EDT 2007 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2721083· OSTI ID:20976604

Noguchi, Koichi; Tronci, Cesare; Zuccaro, Gianluca; Lapenta, Giovanni ^[1]

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1. Physics and Astronomy Department, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005 (United States)

A new formulation is presented for the implicit moment method applied to the time-dependent relativistic Vlasov-Maxwell system. The new approach is based on a specific formulation of the implicit moment method that allows us to retain the same formalism that is valid in the classical case despite the formidable complication introduced by the nonlinear nature of the relativistic equations of motion. To demonstrate the validity of the new formulation, an implicit finite difference algorithm is developed to solve the Maxwell's equations and equations of motion. A number of benchmark problems are run: two stream instability, ion acoustic wave damping, Weibel instability, and Poynting flux acceleration. The numerical results are all in agreement with analytical solutions.

• OSTI ID: 20976604
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 14; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
ACCELERATION
ALGORITHMS
ANALYTICAL SOLUTION
BENCHMARKS
BOLTZMANN-VLASOV EQUATION
EQUATIONS OF MOTION
FINITE DIFFERENCE METHOD
ION ACOUSTIC WAVES
MAXWELL EQUATIONS
MOMENTS METHOD
NONLINEAR PROBLEMS
PARTICLES
PLASMA SIMULATION
RELATIVISTIC PLASMA
RELATIVISTIC RANGE
TIME DEPENDENCE
TWO-STREAM INSTABILITY